Feeler mechanism for looms



Sept. 2 19% A. "E. RHOADES FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Shes t 1 Filed lay 25 1923 /Nl/E/ /TOR."

A TTORNEY A. E. RHOADES mama KECHANISI FOR LOOIS and law 25. 1623 2 Stats-Sheet 2 If lllllflllI!III!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

. r/v VENTORI ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF HOPEDALE, .MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEEDER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed Kay 25, 1923. Serial No. 641,480.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALONZO E. RHOADES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and 6 State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in I eeler- Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings',is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms, whereby the filling'is replenishedfromv time to time prior to complete exhaustion.

Various kinds of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been suggested for. the purpose of either stopping the loom or replenishing the filling when the filling in the shuttle has reached a degree of substantial exhaustion.

It is now the common practice to provide the feeler mechanism with a feeler which enters the shuttle .on each detecting beat and contacts with the filling, and when the filling has reached substantial exhaustion the feeler has detected the fact and has set in\ operation a train of mechanism for replenishing the filling. This constantly recurrin contact of the feeler with the filling on eac detecting beat is liable to injure the filling, especially where the filling is of fine count or formed of material such as silk or the like. Since the function of the feeler is to call for a change of filling when that in-the shuttle has become substantially exhausted, it is a suflicient if the feeler performs its feeling function when the filling has approached the danger point, and initiates replenishment of filling when that in the shuttle has become substantially exhausted.

' One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to rovide a feeler mechanism for looms whereln the feeler may have short periods of activity and longer periods of inactivity during the weaving operation with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, and when in inactive or inoperative position the feeler shall be withdrawn or moved frontwardly to an extent that avoids contact with the filling on a detecting' beat. An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists of means for withdrawing or moving the feeler away from its feeling position to render it inactive,

during its period of inactivity.

HEISSUED and to hold it in such withdrawn position another important feature of the present Invent on consists in releasing the feeler from its inoperative position at intervals that it may move to feeling position and detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle, and then withdraw it from such feeling position provided a working supply of filling-is detected by the feeler, or permit it to remain in active position in case the feeler detects a near approach to substantial exhaust-ion, so

that on the occurrence of the substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle the feeler may call for a change of filling. I

The various novel features of the invention and new combination of parts will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good praotlcal form thereof, it being understood that the details of mechanism may be varied within the true scope of the invention as de- 7 fined by the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of ortions of the loom at the feeler side thereo provided with the present invention, some of the parts being omitted for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the feeler mechanism showing the relation of the parts when the feeler detects a working isoupply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting eat;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, with some of the parts broken away, showing certain operative connections for controlling the feeler; and v Fig. 45 is a detached detail with some of the parts broken away and omitted, showing the relation of parts when the feeler detects a near approach to but prior to the substantial exhaustion.

t The advantages of the present invention are well manifested in a feeler mechanism wherein the feeler is of the inclined type and will be described in connection therewith, but the present invention is not restricted to use in connection therewith, but may be advantageously employed in connection with i any of the usual types of'feelcr mechanisms.

The details of the filling replenishing mechanism may be of usual construction, but as such details form no essential part I the train of mechanism is controlled by the feeler.

The loom frame 1 is of usual construction and secured to each side thereof are the brackets 2 having bearings 3 for the usual transverse or rock shaft 4. Secured to and extending upwardly from the rock shaft 4 is an arm 5 having pivoted thereto at 6 the rearwardly extending arm 7, the rear end portion of which is adapted'to be en gaged by an operating member 8 and be moved frontwardly thereby when the feeler calls for a change of filling. In the present instance, the rearwardl extending arm 7 has the finger 9 pivotal y connected thereto at 10 and providedwith a rearward projection 11 which is normally out of the path of the operating member 8 but is placed in the path of such operating member to initiate filling replenishment by the feeler. The finger 9 has a top portion 12 which overlies the horizontal arm 13 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 14 to a stand 15 secured to the loom frame at 16, and-the downwardly extending arm 17 of the bell crank is connected to a transmitter 18 controlled by the feeler.

In the present instance the transmitter 18 is connected to a slide 19 through which the feeler extends, the construction being such that should the feeler move longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin on a detecting beat it will move the slide 19 and through the bell crank lever position the end 11 of the part 9 for engagement'by the operating member 8 to call for a change of filling. The operating member 8 may be formed as a part of or secured to theusual cam follower..

Extending from the side of the loom frame is the shipper stand 20 to which is adjustably secured by a bolt 21 the feeler stand 22.,

At its rear portion the feeler stand is provided with the uideway 23 in which the slide 19 is mova 1e and at the front of the feeler stand is a rocking bearing 24 which is secured to the feelerstand by a bracket 25 connected to the stand by a bolt 26.

The feeler 27, as hereinbefcrestated, is of the inclined type and has a series of filling engaging teeth 28 on'its rearwardly extending end. The frontwardly extending stem portion of the feeler passes-through a slot in the slide 19 and through an 0 ening in the swivel block 24, as indicate in Fig. 1, and between the front and rear bearings, the feeler has connected thereto a bridge piece 29 which, as shown, rests upon the top surface of the feeler stand. Between the bridge piece 29 and the swivel block 24 is a spring 30 which normally tends to movethe feeler into its rearward feeling position.

The parts so far described are shown as of substantially the same construction as the similar parts in the prior patent to Edward S. Stimpson, No. 1,309,226, July 8, 1919, and while the present invention lends itself well to the control of such character of feeler mechanism, it is to be understood that feeler mechanisms of other types may be advantageously employed.

I11 accordance with the present invention the feeler is to have periods of activity and periods of inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, and in order that the feeler may not contact with the filling, even lightly, during its period of inactivity, the present invention contemplates that it be Withdrawn in a direction away from its feeling position to assume its position of inactivity and be held in such position until released to its shorter feeler to the performance of'its feeling func-v tion.

The detent 31 is pivotally mounted at 32 to a detent carrier or arm 33 which is itself pivotally supported at 34 on a fixed part which may be conveniently formed as a bracketsecured to the loom frame. In the present instance, the feeler stand 20 has secured to it by bolts 35, Figs. 2 and 3, a bracket 36 havin a frontwardly extending arm 37 upon wiich is secured a similar bracket 38 by means of a bolt 39. The bracket 38 has a downwardly extending flange 40 in which is mounted the pivotal support or pin 34 for the detent support or arm 33, the construction being such that the detent support or arm 33 may be rocked about its pivotal support 34 towards and from the front of the loom, and be normally under the influence of a spring 41 tending to move thedetent support or arm 33 towards the rear of the loom.

The detent 31 has a tooth or upwardly projecting lug 42 and is normally under the influence of a spring 43 between the'detent, and the detent support or arm 33, Fig. 2, tending to move the tooth or lug 42 upwardly into the path of movement of the part carried by the feeler with which the detent is to be engaged. \Vhe-n the feeler is of the inclined type such as herein described, the part connected to the feeler which is to be engaged by the detent may be one of the side projecting portions 44 of the bridge iece 29, but such part for engagament by t e detent may be otherwise formed. a

Projecting from the hub ortion' of the detent 31 is a finger 45 which by engagement with the stop 46 on the detent support or arm 33 limits the movementof the detent :gwardly under the impulse of the spring The bracket 36 hereinbefore described as secured to the feeler stand is provided with bearings 47 in which is mounted the shaft 48 carrying a ear 49 which is in cooperative relation with or enga d by a toothed wheel or gear 50 connecte to the sand or take-up roller 51. gear 50 may constitute a part of-the takeup mechanism for. rotating the sand or take up roller 51 totake up the cloth as'it is woven. The toothed wheel or gear 50 is shown as secured to the shaft 52 of the sand or take-up roller, but the take-up mechanism for rotating the toothed wheel or gear 50 to take up the cloth is not shown because it may be of any usual or well-known construction. v

, The shaft 48 extends outwardly and has secured to its outer portion a detent controller 53 constructed and arranged to move the detent towardsthe front of the- 100mandthe feeler away from feeling position when the part connectedthereto is engaged b the detent, and to holdv the feeler in its withdrawn position during its period of inactivity, and after the lapse of an interval cause the detent to free the feeler for a shortperiod of activity.

In the present instance, the detent controller 53 is formed as a disk having the notched portion. 54, and the detentcarrier or arm'33 has adjustabl mountedthereon the follower 55 which is adapted to ride over the peripheral portion of the detent controller and enter the notch when the latter is presented thereto. In the present instance of the invention the follower 55 is secured to or formed as part of a plate 56 having a slot 57 through which asses a bolt 58, the construction being suchtli tion of the follower 55 with" respect to the detent controller may be varied to thereby alter the frontward or withdrawing movement of thedetent.

The notched portion 54 of the detent controller 53 is formed with a deep portion 59 into which the follower 55 drops as the detent controller is slowly rotated, to thereby permit the detent 31 to drop into the dotted and dashed line position, Fig. 2, to disengage the part 44 of the feeler and permit the feeler to'move to its active position. At the bottom of the notch 54 of the detent controller is a small riser 60 over which the follower 55 rides as the detent controller The toothed wheel orat the posiis rotated, to thereby move the detent into the dotted line position, Fig. 2, with the tooth of the detent sufiiciently high to engage the part 44 of the feeler when the latter is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat. As the follower moves over the wall 61 of the detent controller, the detent carrier or arm 33 is moved frontwardly to carry the/detent and erforce the feeler engaged by 'it frontwardly or away from feeling position, and suchwithdrawn orv inactive position of the feeler continues while the follower 55 ofthe detent carrier rides along the substantially circular portion of the detent controller.

From the construction described as one good practical form of the present invention it will be apparent that the feelerwill have short periods of activity and longer periods of inactivit v as the detentcontroller 53 is actuated, an that the feeler will be moved away from its feeling position, or frontwardly, in the present instance, into its inactive position, so that during the period of inactivity of the feeler it will not engage the filling, even though a working supply of filling be present in the shuttle. As the detent controller'53 is slowly rotated and the notched portion 54 is brought opposite the follower 55, the latter will drop into the deep portion 59 of the notch sis thereby permitting the detent to move rearv shuttle, and as the follower 55 rides out. of the notch 54 of the detent controller, the

detent will be moved frontwardly to draw or move the feeler away from its feeling position and hold it in such position as the follower rides over the circular portion of the detent controller. Should the feeler, however, not be moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat, when the detent has assumed its intermediate position. the part 44 of the feeler will not be, moved frontwardly sufficiently far to engage the tooth of the detent, Fig. 4, and the feeler will remain active and call for a change of filling when that in theshuttle has become substantially exhausted.

Applicant believes himself to be the first in the art to provide a feeler mechanism for looms with means for moving or withdrawing the feeler away from its feeling position and holding it there during the period ofinactivity of the feeler and to release feeler may have the feeler at intervals to perform its feeling function so that during the periods of inactivity of the-feeler it will not engage the filling, even though the diameter of the filling presented to the feeler may vary.

The lay 62 may be of usual construction provided with a shuttle box 63, the .front wall of which has an opening 64 which registers with a corresponding opening 65 in the shuttle when the latter is 'roperly positioned in the shuttle box on a ceteetin beat. Likewise, the shuttle 66 may be o usual construction for supporting-the filling carrier or bobbin 67 on which the filling 68 is wound.

No claim is made in this case for the dwell device for causing the detent or feeler engaging means to assume an intermediate position, but such subject-matter is claimed in the co-pending application, Ser. N o. 654,- 355, filed July 28, 1923. v

lVhat is claimed is:

'1. In a loom, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment of fillin a feeler withdrawing and holding device to withdraw the feeler from cooperative relation with the filling and maintain it at rest, and means to operate said device to free the feeler at intervals during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle that the eriods of activity and periods of inactivity with respect to the same filling in the shuttle.

2. In a loom, the combination of a yieldingly sustained feeler to cooperate with the filling in the shuttle and bring about a change in the operation of the loom when substantial exhaustion of filling is detected, a feeler retracting and holdin device to withdraw the feeler and hold it in retracted position, means for operating the feeler retracting and holding device to free the feeler at intervals and then withdraw and hold the feeler again in retracted position when a working supply of filling is in the shuttle on a detecting beat that the feeler may have periods of activity and periods of inactivit during weaving with the same supply of ling.

3. In a loom, the combination of a feeler, means for drawing the feeler frontwardly out of cooperative relation with the filling and holding it at rest for a period of time and then releasing it .to the performance of its feeling function, and mechanism for operating said means that the feeler may have periods of activity and be, withdrawn into a position of inactivity at intervals during weavin with the same supply of filling in the s uttle.

4. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, a spr1ng-normally tending to move the'feeler to rearward feeling position, a feeler withdrawing and holding device to move the feeler frontwardly in opposition to said spring and hold it in inoperative relation to the filling and to release the feeler periodically, and

enter the shuttle and detect substantial exhanstion of the filling-and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a detent to engage a part connected to the feeler when the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a (le tecting beat, means acting to move the feeler frontwardlyan additional amount beyond the reachrof the filling on detectin beats and hold in inoperative position, an means for freeing the feeler at intervals that the feeler may have periods of activity and periods of inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

. 6. Afeeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle and detect substantial ex haustion of the fillin and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a detent to engage a part connected to the feeler when the feeler is moved frontwardl by a working supply of filling in the shutt e on a detecting beat, a detent controller to move the detent frontwardly and further move the feeler away from feeling position and trip the detent at intervals, and means for actuating the detent controller.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and detect substantial exhaustion of the filling and thereupon efi'ect replenishment of filling, means tomove the feeler in a direction away from feeling position when it is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle and to hold it in such position of inactivity for an interval of time and then release the feeler for movement to feeling. position, and operating mechanism for said means that the feeler may have short periods of activity and longer periods of inactivity during weaving with the same suppl of filling in the shuttle.

8. l h a loom, the combination of a feeler. a detent to engage a part connected to the feeler when the latter is moved by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat, a detent controller having apart to move the detent bodily in a direction to carry the feeler away from feeling position and a.

part to trip the detent and free the feeler,

said parts being constructed and arran'g'd to act alternately at intervals, and means for actuating the detent controller. I

9'. In a loom, the combination of a feeler,

a detent, a detent controller comprising a part for causin the detent to move the feeler away from feellng position when the detent is operatively related thereto and a part to effect release of the feeler from the detent at feeler at intervals during we avin with the same supply of filling in the shutt e that the feeler may have periods of activity and periods of inactivit with respect to the same filling in the s uttle.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment, means for moving the feeler fro'litwa'rdly beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats and for holding it at rest for a period of time out of cooperative relation with: the filling and releasing it at intervals for the, rformance of its feeling function that t e feeler may have periods of activity and inactivity v(luring weaving withithefsame-supply 0f l ing in the shuttle.) 7

' 12. In a feeler mechanism' for looms, the combination of a feeler to detect .sub stantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate replenishment of filling, a detent for determining the active and inactive condition of the feeler, and a detent controller to control movements of the detent into three positions, one to release the feeler, another to engage a part connected to the feeler, and another to move I the feeler in a direction awayfrom feeling position. a

- 13. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feelerto detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon initiate re lenishment offilling, a detent for determinmg the active and mactive condition of the feeler, and. a detent f controller to control movements of the detent into three positions, one to release the feeler,'another to engage a part connected to the feeler, and another to move the feeler in a direction away from feeling position, and means actuated from the take-up for operating the detent controller.

14. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon cause replenishment of filling,

a detent 'for holding the feeler in a.

frontward position, means for causing the detent to move the feeler further frontward beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats, and means for tripping the detent at intervals that the feeler may have periods of activity and periods of inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle. v

' A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler mounted for yielding movement to feeling position to detect substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle and thereupon cause replenishmentof filling, a movable detent carrier, a detent yieldingly mounted on the detent carrier to engage a part connected to the feeler, a detent controller, and means for actuating the controller to' cause the detent to withdraw the feeler frontwardly beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats and,

hold it during periods of inactivity and then release the feeler to its feeling function for periods of activity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the-shuttle.

16. In a feeler mechanisni forlooms, the combination of a feeler, means for moving the feeler' to an inoperative position beyond the reach of the filling in the shuttle on detecting beats that it may be held during its periods of inactivity out-of contacting relation with the fillin and means for freeing the feeler at interva s that it may have periods of activity and periods of inactivity during weavin with the same supply of filling in the s uttle.

17. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, means for causing movement of the feeler to an inoperative position .beyond Pthe reach of the filling in the shuttle on detecting beats,

- means acting to hold the feeler in such inoperative position during periods of inactivity that it may not enga e the filling, and means for freeing the eeler at intervals that it may have periods of activity and periods of inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling.

In testimony whereof ,I have signed my specification.

name tothi's ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

